Golf!!!2!

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by Weitz

Anyone have any recommendations for golf courses around Victoria or Sooke on the island? Heading out there in a couple weeks and going to bring my clubs to play a couple rounds.

Olympic View is one of my favorites and is reasonably priced.

Bear Mountain is excellent but a tad expensive.

[FragileMind]

Originally Posted by jayswin

It's already a tricky layout, but to have punishing long grass lining the fairways is just torture.

Taking away the long grass at Delacour,took everything away from it.Just average now.

[Slava]

Wondering if someone could help me out here with a decision/question. I’m debating getting a membership and sort of thinking about an annual designation scenario. I guess I’m somewhat torn. The annual designation saves me a fair amount today, but then if I want to buy a membership anyway, it just means I pay that amount “next year” sort of thing.

So, I’m a bit torn. Anyone have any thoughts on that? And as far as the whole thing goes, do you think membership prices drop going forward? I guess I can see a scenario for both rising memberships and falling going forward. Just curious as to the thoughts of the CP hive mind.

[wpgflamesfan]

Originally Posted by Slava

Wondering if someone could help me out here with a decision/question. I’m debating getting a membership and sort of thinking about an annual designation scenario. I guess I’m somewhat torn. The annual designation saves me a fair amount today, but then if I want to buy a membership anyway, it just means I pay that amount “next year” sort of thing.

So, I’m a bit torn. Anyone have any thoughts on that? And as far as the whole thing goes, do you think membership prices drop going forward? I guess I can see a scenario for both rising memberships and falling going forward. Just curious as to the thoughts of the CP hive mind.

So a few friends and I have done an annual designation type membership this year and I would highly recommend it. We're all in financial related fields and viewed it as a risk management type exercise as it allows us to get a feel for all aspects of the membership/course without actually committing fully to any club itself. Aside from the insanity of trying to get tee times earlier this year (still not great but from talking to other members they've never seen anything like it and it has been slowly getting better), we've been pretty happy, however, if it were that difficult to get tee times during normal times, I would have been super angry at myself for committing to a full membership.

As for what membership are going to do going forward, I personally don't see them going up going forward. Even if it hit 40 rounds (which would be on the extreme high end of my friend group which includes many golfers) this year the cost per round (without factoring in some kind of amortization of a share itself) doesn't really save me all that money.

Curious to see what your thoughts are on an increasing price scenario?

[Weitz]

Is there a reason to become a full member at any course in Calgary anymore? If you get full booking privileges with the annual why bother investing all that money you won't ever get back?

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by FragileMind

Taking away the long grass at Delacour,took everything away from it.Just average now.

Yep used to be a tough challenge, now you stay out of the water and its easy.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by wpgflamesfan

So a few friends and I have done an annual designation type membership this year and I would highly recommend it. We're all in financial related fields and viewed it as a risk management type exercise as it allows us to get a feel for all aspects of the membership/course without actually committing fully to any club itself. Aside from the insanity of trying to get tee times earlier this year (still not great but from talking to other members they've never seen anything like it and it has been slowly getting better), we've been pretty happy, however, if it were that difficult to get tee times during normal times, I would have been super angry at myself for committing to a full membership.

As for what membership are going to do going forward, I personally don't see them going up going forward. Even if it hit 40 rounds (which would be on the extreme high end of my friend group which includes many golfers) this year the cost per round (without factoring in some kind of amortization of a share itself) doesn't really save me all that money.

Curious to see what your thoughts are on an increasing price scenario?

Would you share where you're at?

I guess my thinking is that there are a couple deals at this point for memberships and with Covid it might mean getting a discount there, whereas a year or two from now when that's not an issue (I hope!!), those deals are probably gone? I guess I do wonder about the longer-term popularity in some ways, but I'm not sure that courses are dying for members at this time either?

I think you explain my exact thoughts on the annual designate though. I kind of want a trial run, to see how much I like having the membership, see how much I use it and basically see if it's worth it. the risk is that I love it and end up wishing I just bought the full thing...but the upside is if I only play 20 rounds because of various reasons, I know that a full membership is probably dumb!

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by Slava

So, I’m a bit torn. Anyone have any thoughts on that? And as far as the whole thing goes, do you think membership prices drop going forward?

After Covid nothing will increase in prices and especially golf membership which is a luxury item to most people. Private club golf is different than paying green fees. Me and my group play close to 100 rounds a year and there're some members who play like 5 times a year and still are member for over 20 years.

Once I've tried out annual membership, I can't go back to paying green fees. For green fees paying golfers, you have to find 4 guys committed to play on certain days, book in advance and hope to get good tee times. And if it looks like raining, you cancel and repeat the process.

Private club golfers like me will show up at the course without any tee time, I play with anybody after work and I'll play with my regular group on the weekends. I can cancel and book at will, not that I do that often. If the weather looks like raining, sometimes I can get 18 in before it rains or I will come back home with my wet tail between my legs. Doesn't matter.

I started like most people calculating cost per round but once I got a taste of the convenience and camaraderie of private club golf, I can't go back. Even for people who play only like 20-30 rounds a year, they still join because they say this is the only way they can play those rounds amidst their family and job obligation.

I'm golfing for at least 9 and many times 18 holes after work everyday, weather permits, since the courses were open. And sometimes two rounds a day on the weekends. Bet you can't do that paying green fees even if money is of no concern.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by darklord700

After Covid nothing will increase in prices and especially golf membership which is a luxury item to most people. Private club golf is different than paying green fees. Me and my group play close to 100 rounds a year and there're some members who play like 5 times a year and still are member for over 20 years.

Once I've tried out annual membership, I can't go back to paying green fees. For green fees paying golfers, you have to find 4 guys committed to play on certain days, book in advance and hope to get good tee times. And if it looks like raining, you cancel and repeat the process.

Private club golfers like me will show up at the course without any tee time, I play with anybody after work and I'll play with my regular group on the weekends. I can cancel and book at will, not that I do that often. If the weather looks like raining, sometimes I can get 18 in before it rains or I will come back home with my wet tail between my legs. Doesn't matter.

I started like most people calculating cost per round but once I got a taste of the convenience and camaraderie of private club golf, I can't go back. Even for people who play only like 20-30 rounds a year, they still join because they say this is the only way they can play those rounds amidst their family and job obligation.

I'm golfing for at least 9 and many times 18 holes after work everyday, weather permits, since the courses were open. And sometimes two rounds a day on the weekends. Bet you can't do that paying green fees even if money is of no concern.

Golfing that much is a different animal though. If I was golfing that much I would have a membership no problem. Unfortunately I am lucky to get out once a week.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

Olympic View is one of my favorites and is reasonably priced.

Bear Mountain is excellent but a tad expensive.

I see the Mountain is the higher ranked course. Is it that much better than the Valley? I don't mind paying for either, but want to make it work my while.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by darklord700

After Covid nothing will increase in prices and especially golf membership which is a luxury item to most people. Private club golf is different than paying green fees. Me and my group play close to 100 rounds a year and there're some members who play like 5 times a year and still are member for over 20 years.

Once I've tried out annual membership, I can't go back to paying green fees. For green fees paying golfers, you have to find 4 guys committed to play on certain days, book in advance and hope to get good tee times. And if it looks like raining, you cancel and repeat the process.

Private club golfers like me will show up at the course without any tee time, I play with anybody after work and I'll play with my regular group on the weekends. I can cancel and book at will, not that I do that often. If the weather looks like raining, sometimes I can get 18 in before it rains or I will come back home with my wet tail between my legs. Doesn't matter.

I started like most people calculating cost per round but once I got a taste of the convenience and camaraderie of private club golf, I can't go back. Even for people who play only like 20-30 rounds a year, they still join because they say this is the only way they can play those rounds amidst their family and job obligation.

I'm golfing for at least 9 and many times 18 holes after work everyday, weather permits, since the courses were open. And sometimes two rounds a day on the weekends. Bet you can't do that paying green fees even if money is of no concern.

I can also see that benefit and I'm pretty sure I can get out at least once a week, maybe more. I feel like just walking on with good golfers is of minimal concern to me; I'm not a great golfer, but I'm also fine keeping up with play and know the etiquette and such (which is far more important than whether my score is 98 or 89 in my opinion!)

But your first sentence confuses me. If the prices are likely coming down in the future, I should just go the annual route and see what happens I guess.

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by Slava

But your first sentence confuses me. If the prices are likely coming down in the future, I should just go the annual route and see what happens I guess.

Yes, you should go the annual route for now and not to be worried about increase in share prices as there likely won't any down the road. But most clubs only allow you be an annual for a few years and you'll have to buy share after, said, 3-4 years. So go annual now and see if you like it.

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by Weitz

I see the Mountain is the higher ranked course. Is it that much better than the Valley? I don't mind paying for either, but want to make it work my while.

Mountain is more scenic, but also more gimmicky with all of the elevation changes.

[AltaGuy]

Originally Posted by Weitz

I see the Mountain is the higher ranked course. Is it that much better than the Valley? I don't mind paying for either, but want to make it work my while.

I preferred Valley when I played there, but the views from Mountain are better.

So depends on whether you want scenery or better golf.

[Lubicon]

Originally Posted by Weitz

Yep used to be a tough challenge, now you stay out of the water and its easy.

Nothing in my golf game comes easy!

[BurningYears]

Been a couple of good rounds lately ending with a nice 79 from the tips at Maple Ridge on Saturday, if it wasn't for a couple of double bogeys bookending the back 9 it could of been even better but 4 birdies in one round makes me rather happy.



On top of that I get to play Kananaskis tomorrow for my buddys birthday and the weather looks pretty solid.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by BurningYears

Been a couple of good rounds lately ending with a nice 79 from the tips at Maple Ridge on Saturday, if it wasn't for a couple of double bogeys bookending the back 9 it could of been even better but 4 birdies in one round makes me rather happy.



On top of that I get to play Kananaskis tomorrow for my buddys birthday and the weather looks pretty solid.

It's in great shape too. Played Kidd on Saturday. Shot 88.

Such a piss off though. 18 is a par 5 and I hit a nice drive followed by a wood to about 25 yards short of the green. Proceed to skull my chip into the woods behind the hole, have to chip out, then on and 2 putt for the double bogey. Maddening.

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by Weitz

I see the Mountain is the higher ranked course. Is it that much better than the Valley? I don't mind paying for either, but want to make it work my while.

If you have a connection that can get you on Victoria Golf Club or Royal Colwood do that.

[jayswin]

So what's the deal with Lakeview, are they just not opening this season?

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by jayswin

So what's the deal with Lakeview, are they just not opening this season?

It would be a shame if it didn't open. I like taking my kid there. It is a perfect course for him to learn on.